-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A judge has ruled in favor of two Florida school administrators who faced contempt charges for saying a prayer at a school luncheon , according to a group that helped represent them .

Rep. Mike McIntyre is one of three members of the Congressional Prayer Caucus backing the school officials .

U.S. District Judge M.C. Rodgers ruled Thursday in favor of Frank Lay , principal of Pace High School in Pace , Florida , and school athletic director Robert Freeman , the Liberty Counsel said .

Lay and Freeman could have faced up to six months in prison and fines if convicted . They were accused of violating a consent decree banning county school employees from initiating prayers during school events .

Ahead of the court proceedings , hundreds of supporters lined the streets outside the federal courthouse in Pensacola , Florida . Many of them carried signs and some sang songs .

`` It is ridiculous that these men even had to think twice about blessing a meal , '' Liberty Counsel founder Matthew Staver said in a written statement .

`` To criminalize the prayer conflicts with our nation 's founding and guiding principles and goes directly against our constitutionally protected rights . ''

But the American Civil Liberties Union , whose lawsuit led to the consent decree , has maintained students have a right to be free from administrators who foist their personal religious beliefs on them .

Still , an ACLU representative has said the organization `` never suggested '' people should go to jail for violating the decree , and the organization was not involved in the criminal proceedings .

The ACLU filed suit last year against the district on behalf of two Pace students who alleged that `` school officials regularly promoted religion and led prayers at school events , '' according to an ACLU statement .

Lay was a party in the initial lawsuit , and his attorney was among those approving the consent decree , according to the organization . In addition , the court required that all district employees receive a copy .

But on January 28 , `` Lay asked Freeman to offer a prayer of blessing during a school-day luncheon for the dedication of a new field house at Pace High School , '' according to court documents .

`` Freeman complied with the request and offered the prayer at the event . It appears this was a school-sponsored event attended by students , faculty and community members . ''

Attorneys from Liberty Counsel have said that attendees included booster club members and other adults who helped the field house project -- all `` consenting adults . ''

The case caught the attention of members of the Congressional Prayer Caucus , including the caucus ' founder , Rep. J. Randy Forbes , R-Virginia .

He and two other lawmakers , Rep. Mike McIntyre , D-North Carolina , and Rep. Jeff Miller , R-Florida , also members of the caucus , wrote a letter in support of the two school administrators , saying that `` many of America 's Founding Fathers were resolute in their faiths , and the impact of such is evident in the Constitution , the Declaration of Independence , and many of their writings . ''

It added , `` The tradition of offering prayer in America has become so interwoven into our nation 's spiritual heritage that to charge someone criminally for engaging in such a practice would astonish the men who founded this country on religious liberty . ''

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Two Florida school administrators accused of violating consent order on prayer

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They faced possible sentence of up to six months in prison , fine

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ACLU sued district on behalf of students who alleged prayer held at school events

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Parties agreed to consent decree in January ; ACLU not part of criminal proceedings